Sediment corer



1967 A. L. INDERBITZEN 3,299,969

SEDIMENT CORER Filed Aug. 1, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

ANTON L. INDERBITZEN Jan. 24, 1967 A. L. INDERBITZEN SEDIMENT CORER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 1, 1963 INVENTOR.

INDERB ITZEN ANTON L.

gent

Jan. 24, 1967 A. L. INDERBITZEN 3,299,969

SEDIMENT CORER Filed Aug. 1, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. ANTON vL. INDERBITZEN Aqent Jam 24, 1967 A. 1.. INDERBITZEN SEDIMENT CORER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 1, 1963 INVENI'OR. IN DER B l T Z EN ANTON L.

United States Patent 3,299,969 SEDIMENT CORER 7 Anton L. Inderbitzen, San Diego, Calif., assignor to Lockheed Aircraft Corporation, Burbank, Calif. Filed Aug. 1, 1963, Ser. No. 299,405 4 Claims. (Cl. 1755) This invention relates to a sediment corer and more particularly to a corer for taking undisturbed samples from the ocean floor.

It has long been a problem to obtain accurate and dependable samples of the ocean floor. If a sample is agitated while being gathered or in removal from a corer, some properties-such as structure, compaction and bearing strengthmay change enough to make accurate laboratory analysis impossible.

Therefore, it is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a corer having a simplified construction which will obtain samples from the ocean floor without agitating the sample.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a corer of the type described which has a new and improved cutting nose.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a corer of the type described having a new and im proved sample collecting tube which may be readily disconnected from the body of the corer and taken to a laboratory for examination without disturbing the sample contained in the tube.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a corer for obtaining samples of the ocean floor which employs a new and improved piston which remains stationary as the sample collecting tube of the coring device sinks into the ocean floor so that the piston makes the hydrostatic pressure outside the tube effective in overcoming frictional resistance between the entering sediment and the inner wall of the tube.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a corer of the type described having a new and improved locking device for locking a sample in a sample collecting tube.

According to the present invention, a corer is provided with a staniess steel nose which is attached to the end of an expendable plastic barrel or sample collecting tube in which a piston is slidably mounted. The plastic barrel is attached to the body of the corer in such a manher that the barrel may be quickly disconnected from the body portion and taken to a laboratory where the barrel may be sliced like a sausage and the sample analyzed in an undisturbed condition. Weights are provided which may be readily mounted on the body of the corer to give it the required weight necessary to penetrate the type of ocean floor being investigated.

The corer may be lowered into the ocean by means of a suitable winch-controlled cable until the corer is Within about ten feet of the bottom at which time a mechanical triggering device triggers a lever arm and releases the corer from the winch-controlled cable after which the corer falls freely to the ocean floor. When the tip of the corer comes into engagement with the ocean floor, the piston is held stationary by a chain or suitable line which connects the piston to the winch-controlled cable. The piston remains stationary at the level of the sediment at the end of the sample collecting tube. Then, as the tube sinks into the sediment, a vacuum is created by the piston to lock the sample in the tube. A circular set of leaves of spring bronze may also be employed as a core catcher in the end of the tube in such a manner that the leaves close as the tube is withdrawn.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its Patented Jan. 24, 1967 organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURES 1-5 are schematic views showing a corer of the invention being lowered to the ocean floor, collecting a sample, and then being raised again;

FIGURE 6 is a longitudinal cutaway view in partial cross-section of the corer of the present invention;

FIGURE 7 is an end view of the device of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken along line 88 of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 9 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken along line 99 of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 10 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken along line 19-19 of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 11 is a cross-sectional view of a valve mechanism which may be employed with the corer of FIGURE 6; and

FIGURE 12 is an elevational cutaway view of a modified cutting nose for a corer of the invention.

Referring again to the drawings and more particularly to FIGURES 1-5, the corer constituting the present invention is generally designated 19 and is shown schematically in FIGURE 1 as being lowered to the ocean floor 12 by means of a ships cable 14. The bail 16 of corer 19 is connected to a trigger arm 29 which releases bail 16 when a trigger weight 22 touches the ocean floor 12. The bail 16 is released when a wire line 24-, connecting weight 22 to trigger arm 20, slacks 0E permitting trigger arm 20 to swing to the position shown in FIGURE 2 when weight 22 comes to rest on the ocean floor. Connection between the ships cable 14 and corer 10 is maintained by a chain 25 which passes from the end of ships cable 14 down through the corer 10 to a piston 26 which is initially at the bottom of corer 10. The length of chain 25 is so adjusted that the chain becomes taut (FIG- URE 3) just as the nose or core cutter 28 of corer 10 reaches floor 12. As corer 10 sinks into floor 12, the piston 26, immobilized by ships cable 14 and chain 25, makes the hydrostatic pressure outside corer 10 effective in overcoming frictional resistance between the entering sediment S and the inner wall of corer 10. An undisturbed sample is thus obtained and piston 26 is positioned above the sample of sediment S adjacent a stop member 29 (FIGURE 4). The corer 10 is raised (FIGURE 5) by a chain 25 which brings piston 26 into engagement with stop member 29 and raises the sediment S within corer it? by vacuum pressure.

Referring now to FIGURES 610, corer 10 includes an upper body member 30 and a lower body member 32 which are coupled together by means of acollar 34 having an internal thread 36. The internal thread engages an external thread 38 at the lower end of the upper body member 30, the collar 34 being connected to the lower body member 32 by means of a yoke 40 (FIGURE 9) which includes a bight portion 42 and legs 44 and 45. The legs 44 and 45 engage bores 46 and 48, repectively, in collar 34 and an annular groove 49 in body member 32. The yoke 40 provides a means for readily disconnecting the lower body member 32 from the upper body member 30 by loosening nuts 50 and a clamp 52 (FIG- URE 9). A washer 53.is rigidly afiixed to each leg 44 and 45 to form stop members so that bight portion 42 will remain spaced from collar 34 to facilitate gripping bight portion 42. Each of the legs 44 and 45 is extended beyond the clamp 52 a distance sufficient to accommodate a compression spring 45a. Each is also provided with a recess 44b for a purpose to be described.

The lower body member 32 includes a coupling member 54, which may be made of a suitable corrosion resistant material, such as stainless steel, and has U-shaped 3 handle members 56 and 57 rigidly aflixed thereto. The coupling member 54 has an annular flange 58 near one end from which the stop member 29 extends. The other end of coupling member 54 carries the annular groove 49 which receives the legs 44 and 45 of yoke member 40.

The lower body member 32 also includes a barrel or sample collecting tube 64, preferably constructed from plastic, having an annular flange 66 at one end which engages the flange 58 on coupling 54 when the plastic barrel or tube 64 is slid over stop member 29. The tube 64 is locked to the coupling 54 by means of a clamp 68. The nose or core cutter 28 of corer is connected to the other end 69 of tube 64 by means of self-tapping screws 70. The core cutter 28 is of cylindrical shape and includes an encompassing sidewall 72 tapering downwardly to a sharpened, peripheral edge 74. An internal annular land 76 is provided intermediate the ends of nose 28 and serves as a seat for an annular flange 78 of a core catcher 80 having a plurality of resilient fingers 82 affixed to annular flange 78. The end 69 of tube 64 encompasses fingers 82, which may be made of a flexible material such as brass so that the fingers bend over to close end 69 of tube 64 as it is raised to trap a sample of sediment therein. The outside taper on sidewall 72 makes core cutter 28 especially suitable forcutting through clay.

The piston 26 is slidably mounted in tube 64 and includes a solid cylindrical body portion 84 having a bore 85. A resilient seal 86 is mounted on each end of body portion 84 forming a sliding contact with tube 64. A cup-type gasket 87 encompasses a plug 88 at each end of body portion 84 and is maintained in position relative thereto by means of a bolt 89 which passes through bore 85. A bifurcated member 90 is rigidly affixed to the upper end of bolt 89 and a washer 91 and nut 91a are carried on the lower end of bolt 89. When nut 91a is tightened, bifurcated member 90 and washer 91 brings plugs 88 and gaskets 87 into firm engagement with body portion 84. A bolt 92 removably connects chain to the bifurcated member 90.

The upper body member includes a sleeve 94 carrying the external threads 38 at one end and external threads 96 at its other end. The external threads 96 are engageable by a valve member to be hereinafter described. An annular stop member 98 having a flange 99 encompasses the sleeve 94 and is rigidly aflixed thereto.

A plurality of lead weights 100, each having the general C-shape shown in FIGURE 10, include recessed portions 101 and mounds 102. A plurality of weights 100 maybe mounted on sleeve 94 as required to furnish the necessary weight for corer 10 to penetrate the type of ocean floor being examined. The weights 100 are stacked one upon another by having a mound 102 of one weight engage the recess 101 of an adjacent weight and are maintained against stop member 98 by means of an annular collar 104 which is slidably mounted on sleeve 94, but which may be rigidly affixed thereto at predetermined locations by means of a bolt 106. The bail 16, a plurality of fins 108 and a shroud 110 are affixed to the sleeve 94 adjacent threads 96.

Referring now to FIGURE 11, a valve member 112 may be employed in lieu of piston 26. It includes a cap member 114 having internal threads 116 which are engageable with the external threads 96 on sleeve 94 at the upper end thereof. The valve member 112 also includes a valve seat 118 upon which a valve 120, having a rubber seal 122, seats. The valve 120 includes a valve stem 124 which is slidably mounted in a sleeve 126 carried by a bracket 128. The bracket 128 is rigidly affixed to the cap member 114. A compression spring 130 has one end bearing against bracket 128 and its-other end bearing against the valve 120 to bias the valve 120 into seated engagement with valve seat-118. When the valve member 112 is employed in place of piston 26, it nnseats to release water from the corer 10 as tube 64 penetrates the ocean floor. The spring 130 causes it to re-seat.

Hence, as the corer is being withdrawn water is prevented from traversing the tube and washing out the sediment core.

Referring now to FIGURE 12, a modified core cutter 28a is shown which has a sharpened, beveled edge 74a and a substantially straight inner sidewall 84a terminating in an annular land 76a. While it is obvious that the core catcher may also be used with the core cutter 28a, it is shown for purposes of illustration, but not of limitation, as being used without the core catcher. In this case, the plastic tube 64 will abut directly on land 76a. The core cutter 28a is attached to the plastic tube 64 by means of screws 70 in the same manner that the core cutter 28 was shown attached to the tube 64. The core cutter 28a is adapted to cut sand cores.

Operation of the device will be readily understood. The corer 10, trigger arm 20 and trigger weight 22 are lowered on ships cable 14 to within about 10 feet of the floor 12. At this depth, the trigger weight 22 contacts floor 12 slacking wire line 24 so that trigger arm 20 releases bail 16. The corer 10 then free-falls to the floor 12 with fins 108 and shroud guiding corer 10 so that nose 28 points toward floor 12. When the nose 28 contacts the ocean floor 12, chain 25 becomes taut, holding piston 26 stationary while tube 64 slides downwardly and nose 28 penetrates the ocean floor 12, cutting a core therefrom. By holding piston 26 stationary while the plastic tube 64 moves downwardly into the ocean floor 12, a uniform vacuum is created while the sample is being collected so that the sample is not agitated and remains in its undisturbed condition.

When corer 10 penetrates to the depth permitted by the inertia imparted by weights 100, ships cable 14 and chain 25 raise the corer 10 to the surface when the lower body member 32 may be readily disconnected from the upper body member 30 by grasping the bite 42 of the yoke 40 and moving the recesses 44b into alignment with the contour of the coupling member 54 by compressing the springs 45a. The cutter 28 and the core catcher 80 are then removed from the tube 64 and a cap member (not shown) is installed over the tube end. The clamp 68 is next removed and the tube 64 is separated from the coupling member 54. The chain 25 and piston 26 may then be withdrawn from the tube 64. The upper tube end is capped and the tube 64 and the core sample contained therein may then be transported to the laboratory for analysis. I

While the particular sediment corer herein shown and described in detail is fully capable of attaining the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown other than as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

I claim:

1. A sediment corer for collecting sediment samples comprising:

(a) a first body member;

(b) a second body member removably connected to said first body member;

(0) cutter means connected to said second body member at an end opposite said second body member;

((1) means for creating a vacuum insaid second body;

(e) C-shaped weights engageable with said first body member, each of said weights having a recessed portion and a corresponding mound whereby a plurality of said weights are stackable on said first body member by engaging the mound of the first weight with the recess of an adjacent weight.

2. A sediment corer for collecting sediment samples comprising:

(a) a first body member;

(b) a second body member removably connected to said first body member and wherein said second body member comprises;

a coupling member having groove means at one end and an annular flange at its other end;

a plastic tubular member having an annular flange at one end abutting said flange on said coupling member;

clamp means encompassing said flanges to clamp together said cutter means to the other end of said plastic tubular member;

() cutter means connected to said second body at an end opposite to said second body;

(d) means for creating a vacuum within said second body member wherein said vacuum creating means comprises a piston slideably mounted in said plastic tube;

(e) a piston stop member depending from said annular flange on said coupling member and extending into said plastic tube; and

(f) means for holding said piston stationary when said cutter means penetrates the sediment.

3. A sediment corer for collecting sediment samples comprising:

(a) an upper body member having a threaded end;

(b) a lower body member having a groove in one end;

(0) connecting means for connecting said body members together, including a collar having a threaded end engageable with the threaded end of said upper body member and having -a passageway means portion adjacent the groove on said lower body member, said connecting means also including locking means engageable with said passageway means and said groove to lock said collar to said lower body member;

(d) core cutting means connected to the other end of said lower body member for cutting samples of sediment;

(e) means for creating a vacuum in said lower body member to draw said sediment thereinto, said connecting means permitting a removal of said lower body member from said upper body member without disturbing sediment collected in said lower body member;

(f) a U-shaped member having legs engageable .with said passageway means and said groove and having a bight portion positionable adjacent said collar, each of said legs having a portion protruding exteriorly of said collar;

(g) first means rigidly aflixed to said legs adjacent said bight portion for maintaining said bight portion in spaced relation with said collar; and

(h) second means engaging the protruding portions to maintain certain requisites in position in said passageway means.

4. A sediment corer for collecting sediment samples comprising:

(a) an upper body member having a threaded end;

(b) a lower body member having a groove at one end;

(c) connecting means for connecting said body members together including a collar having a threaded end engageable with the threaded end of said upper body member and having passageway means positionable adjacent the groove on said lower body member, said connecting means also including locking means, selectively positionable within said passageway means and engageable with said groove to lock said collar to said lower body member so as to permit said upper body member and said lower body member to be disconnected without removal of said locking means;

(d) core cutting means connected to the other end of said lower body member for cutting samples of sediment;

(e) means for creating a vacuum in said lower body member to draw said seidment thereinto, said connecting means permitting removal of said lower body from said upper member without disturbing sedi ment collected in said lower body member; and

(f) biasing means connected to said locking means for returning said locking means to a normally locked position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,019,000 2/1912 Watson 285-406 2,318,062 5/1943 Dames -234 2,488,486 11/1949 Worzel 175-5 2,650,068 8/1953 Rand 175-6 2,664,269 12/1953 Knight et a1 175-245 X 2,772,898 12/1956 Seeler 285-305 X 2,795,395 6/1957 Acker et al. 175-405 X 2,807,439 9/1957 Lipscomb 175-6 3,078,931 2/1963 Moore 175-5 3,139,945 7/1964 Del Re et al. 175-6 3,155,174 11/1964 Niskin 175-6 X 3,163,241 12/1964 Daigle et al 175-405 X 3,202,035 8/1965 Rosselet 175-405 X JACOB L. NACKENOFF, Primary Examiner.

CHARLES E. OCONNELL, Examiner.

R. E. FAVREAU, Assistant Examiner. 

2. A SEDIMENT CORER FOR COLLECTING SEDIMENT SAMPLES COMPRISING: (A) A FIRST BODY MEMBER; (B) A SECOND BODY MEMBER REMOVABLY CONNECTED TO SAID FIRST BODY MEMBER AND WHEREIN SAID SECOND BODY MEMBER COMPRISES; A COUPLING MEMBER HAVING GROOVE MEANS AT ONE END AND AN ANNULAR FLANGE AT ITS OTHER END; A PLASTIC TUBULAR MEMBER HAVING AN ANNULAR FLANGE AT ONE END ABUTTING SAID FLANGE ON SAID COUPLING MEMBER; CLAMP MEANS ENCOMPASSING SAID FLANGES TO CLAMP TOGETHER SAID CUTTER MEANS TO THE OTHER END OF SAID PLASTIC TUBULAR MEMBER; (C) CUTTER MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID SECOND BODY AT AN END OPPOSITE TO SAID SECOND BODY; (D) MEANS FOR CREATING A VACUUM WITHIN SAID SECOND BODY MEMBER WHEREIN SAID VACUUM CREATING MEANS COMPRISES A PISTON SLIDEABLY MOUNTED IN SAID PLASTIC TUBE; (E) A PISTON STOP MEMBER DEPENDING FROM SAID ANNULAR FLANGE ON SAID COUPLING MEMBER AND EXTENDING INTO SAID PLASTIC TUBE; AND (F) MEANS FOR HOLDING SAID PISTON STATIONARY WHEN SAID CUTTER MEANS PENETRATES THE SEDIMENT. 